Method and apparatus for banding tanks



March 6, 1945. 2,370,780

J. M. CROM METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR BANDING TANKS Filed Nov'f4, 1942 6sheexs-sheet1- March 6, 1945. J. M. cROM METHOD AND APPARATUS FORBANDING TANKS Filed Nov. 4, 1942 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Nov. 4, 1942 6Sheets-Sheet 5 March 6, 1945. J. M. cRoM 2,370,780

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR BANDING TANKS Filed Nov. 4, 1942 6 Sheets-Sheet4 Jo/M 0240231,

March 6, 1945. l J. M. CROM METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR BANDING TANKS FiledNov. 4, 1942 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 lll J. M. CROM METHOD'ANDAPPARATUS FOR BANDING TANKS Filed Nov. 4, 1942 March 6, 1945.

foaz M 0240222,

Patented Mar. 6, 1945 METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR BANDING TANKS f John M.Crum, Washington, D. C. Application November 4, 1942, Serial No. 484,508

Claims.

This invention relates to a novel method and apparatus for banding tankswith steel reinforcement. Large tanks are ordinarily reinforced' bysteel bands or rods extending annularly or spirally therearound and theapplication of these rods to the tanks is a considerable task since itrequires not only extensive scaffolding but also a substantial amount ofmanual labor in threading rod lengths through the scaffolding, raisingthem to the necessary elevation and connecting, laying and tensioningthe rods in continuous length on the vertical tank wall. The primaryobject of my invention is the production of an improved method andapparatus for banding tanks more eiciently and with less expenditure oftime, labor and materials, the invention relating more especially to theapplication of continuous steel wire"circumferentially and spirally ofthe tanks and in taut condition placing the tanks under compression.

The invention contemplates the employment of a wire carrying and placingvehicle supported for movement around and adjacent to the outer face ofthe tank to be banded. An end of the wire reinforcement is anchored at astarting point adjacent to the base or top of the tank and the 4vehiclecarries the free portion thereof and winds it into taut contact with thetank as the vehicle proceeds therearound. The vehicle is movablehorizontally and circumferentially around the tank and means is providedfor trailing the wire onto the tank and placing the succeedingconvolutions progressively higher or lower and in predeterminedproximity.

In the preferred construction vthe vehicle is pulled by and along acable extending around and in frictional'contact with the tank, thiscable being either an independent and closed or complete annulus or acontinuous part of the wire reinforcement trailed into tightengagement'with the tank, all as hereinafter described. Means is alsoprovided for holding and placing the reinforcement wire under a constantand uniform tension and for elevating the vehicle as it travels aroundthe tank whereby to place the reinforcement convolutions atprogressively higher elevations. Thev operations are substantiallycontinuous and mechanical, involving little manual labor and resultingin a strong, uniform and superior reinforcement. The provision of mynovel method and apparatus, all hereinafter more specifically described,for producing these results comprises a further object of the invention.

It is common practice to cover tank reinforcement with a cementitiouscomposition bonded thereto and to the adjacent tank wall, this beingheretofore an independent operation following the application of thereinforcement to the tank. A further feature of my inventioncontemplates the'proiecting of a suitable coating material from the wirewrapping vehicle onto and into bonding engagement with the previouslyplaced wire convolutions beneath or above the vehicle as the vehiclepasses the same in its wire wrapping travel. The placing of this coatingmaterial and thereby completing the entire operation all simultaneouslyand from the same vehicle comprises a further object of the invention.

These and other features of the invention will bel best understood andappreciated' from the following description of preferred embodimentsthereof selected for purposes of illustration and shown in theaccompanying drawings in which,

Fig. 1 is an elevation of a concrete tank being banded and treatedin-accordance with my invention,

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary plan view thereof,

Fig. 3 is an enlarged plan view of the wire banding vehicle shown inFig. 1,

Fig. 4 is an end elevation thereof together with other cooperatingmechanism, taken on line 4-4 of Fig. 3,

Fig. 5 is a detail view taken on line 5 5 of Fig. 4,

Fig. 6 is a front elevation of the vehicle,

Fig. 'l is a fragmentary view of the engine and the interlockedclutch-,brake control,

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary view showing the banding wire supply beingcarried by the vehicle,

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary view showing a modifled form of vehicle,

Fig. 10 is a plan view corresponding to Fig. 3 butshowing a modifiedform of the invention,

Fig. 11 is a fragmentary front elevation thereof.

In the drawings, I0 indicates the cylindrical side wall of a concretetank having a dome or `cover l2` thereon. vMy improved rmethod andapparatusare herein illustrated and described in connection with thebanding of this tank with steel wire wound circumferentially around'andinto tensioned contact with the side wall whereby placing the tank underpredetermined compression.

The invention contemplates the employment of a vehicle for conductingthe wire around the tank and laying it in contact with the side wall.The vehicle can be supported anddriven inany v convenient and desirablemanner for performing this function, as by suspending the vehicle fromabove as illustrated in Figs. 1-6 or by supporting it on tracks at thebase of the tank as illustrated in Fig. 9. In any event the vehicle ismounted to move around the tank and trail the banding wire therefrom andinto predetermined tensioned contact with the tank.

Referring first to Figs. 1-7 of the drawings, |4 indicates a vehicle orplatform suspended from a boom I6 to a position overhanging the outerface of the side wall l (Fig. 1). The boom is supported on a carriage I8in rolling contact with the top of the tank and anchored by a cable forswivelling movement about a fixed post 2| at the central vertical axisof the tank, the cable being connected to a pulley 22 engaging anendless band 28 looped around the post (Fig. 2). The carriage I8 issupported on wheels 25 resting on the tank cover I2 and rotatable onhorizontal axes and also by wheels 26 carried on brackets 21 (Fig. 6),the wheels 26 being rotatable on vertical'axes and in contact with theside wall l0. The carriage is adapted to be driven by a motor 28 througha belt 30 to one of the wheels 25 as hereinafter more specificallydescribed. The carriage I8 is adapted to ride on the top of an open tankof the type illustrated in Fig. 9 as well as on the closed tank shown inFig. 4.

The vehicle or platform |4 is suspended from the boom I6 by three cables32 and sheaf blocks 33 and 34. One end of each cable is secured to itsfixed block 33 at 35 and the other ends of the cables are in wrappedcontact with a drum 36. 'I'he movable blocks 34 are secured to thevehicle-4 at two inner corners 38 and at an outer intermediate point 40,providing a three-point support. Turnbuckles 4| in the connections serveto permit leveling of the vehicle which is also provided with wheels 42rotatable on vertical axes and located to engage the side wall I0, thewheels providing rolling contact with the side wall in the direction oftravel around the tank.

Both wheel supports are pvotally connected to the vehicle on horizontalaxes at 44 whereby permitting the wheels to adjust themselves into flatcontact with the side wall. The vehicle travels in the directionindicated by the arrow in Fig. 3 and the front wheel is mounted in ayoke 45 adjustable on a stud 46 (Figs. 3 and 4). An arm 41 fixed to thestud has its outer end engaged by a screw 48 carrying a handwheel 49 bywhich the yoke and wheel can be adjusted to guide and steer the vehiclealong the desired path. Y

An engine50 mounted on the vehicle is arranged (1) to drive the vehiclearound the tank an'd (2) to elevate or lower the vehicle (Fig. 3). Theengine shaft is operatively connected to a vertical shaft 52 throughtransmission gearing at 53 controlled by a gear shifting lever 54, Asprocket 56 loose on the shaft 52 is operatively connected by a chain 51to a large sprocket wheel 58 hereinafter described. A clutch 60 splinedto the shaft 52 can be shifted by a lever 6| into and out of engagementwith the sprocket 56 (Fig. 7). A sprocket 62 fixed to the shaft 52 isoperatively connected by a chain 64 to a large sprocket wheel 65 on ashaft 66 (Fig. 4).

In this form of the invention, the chain 51 is adapted to drive thevehicle around the tank in the manner hereinafter described, this drivebeing operative when the clutch is engaged and being inoperative whenthe clutch is disengaged. The chain 64 is adapted to rotate the drum 36which, because of the clutch 60, can be operated with or independentlyof the vehicle movement. The shaft 66 is connected by bevel gears 61'toa shaft 68 having a worm 10 thereon in mesh with a large worm wheel 1|on a shaft 12. The shaft 12 is connected to the drum shaft 14 throughreduc tion and change speed gearing in a box 15. This gearing furtherreduces the drum speed relative to the speed of the worm wheel 1| andthe gearing within the box is such that by changing gears in well knownmanner the ratio of the speed reduction can be varied, all for purposeshereinafter described. Retrograde rotation of the drum is prevented bypawls 16 engaging the teeth of a ratchet wheel 16 fixed to the drum.

A brake drum is fixed to the shaft 52 adjacent to the clutch 60 (Fig. 7)and an interlocking connection including a rod 6| is provided betweenthe clutch lever 82 and the brake shoes cooperating with the drum. Theclutch lever is operated by a hand rod 83. When the clutch isin closedposition the brake shoes are disengaged through the rod 8| and when theclutch is moved to open position the shoes are automatically engagedwith the drum through the same connection. Thus when the shaft 52 isdisengaged from the engine shaft the brake automatically preventsrotation of the shaft 52.

As illustrated in Fig. 1 the banding wire 84 is drawn from a reel 85supported on the ground at the base of the tank and mounted to rotateabout a horizontal axis 86 to unwind the wire and torevolve about avertical axis 88 to take the twist out of the wire as hereafterdescribed. The wire passes from the reel upwardly over a sheave 89supported on a pole 90 above the tank. From thence the wire passesdownwardly and into and through a funnel-like guide 9| mounted to swivelon the post 2|, and from thence to the vehicle |4. It will be apparentthat the travel of the vehicle around the tank, carrying the wiretherewith, puts a twist in the wire. The reel 85 can occasionally berotated on its vertical axis in a direction and to an extent removingthis twist.

From the guide 9| (Fig. l) the wire 64 passes over a sheave 92 supportedon the boom |6 and from thence to and through a series of grooved rolls93 supported in lateral alignment between two plates 94 on the vehicleI4 (Fig. 4). The wire continues therefrom around a grooved wheel 95.fixed to the shaft of a brake comprising two brake drums 86 supported ina block 91, and from thence into contact with the tank wall l2. The base|02 of the brake rests atly on the frame 4 (Fig. 3) and is adjustableabout a center clamping bolt |04, a clamping bolt |06 extending throughan arcuate slot |08 permitting this adjustment. As the vehicle travelsin the direction of the arrow (Fig. 3) the wire trails from the wheel 95into contact with the tank. The rolls 93 serve to hold the wiretensioned on and about the wheel 95 and the tension of the wire as it iswrapped on the tank is determined by the brake under the control of abrake lever 98. r

The wire passes from the wheel 95 around and in frictional contact withthe tank and back to the vehicle where it passes around a grooved Wheel99 fixed to the bottom end of a vertical shaft |00, the sprocket 58being fixed to the top end of this shaft (Fig. 3). From the wheel 99 thewire passes between and in contact with two grooved rolls |0| on a block|03 pivotally mounted on the frame at |05, from thence between and incontact with two grooved rolls |01 on a block |09 pivoted to the frameat I0, and from thence the wire trails into contact with the tank. Theblock |63 carries an index pointer movable over a graduated scale |I2and also carries an arm ||3. A spring lll has one end anchored :,avopsonut II9 at its free end. A screw |2I, having an operating wheel |23, islournaled for rotation'in a bearing |25 secured to the frame on avertical pivot |21. 'I'he screw is threaded through the nut which ismounted for pivotal movement on a vertical axis |29 on the arm. Rotationof the screw is adapted to rock the block |09 about its pivotalsmountingIII, rotation in one direction being adapted to increase the tension onthe wire and rotation in the opposite direction being adapted todecrease the tension on the wire. The purpose and operation of theblocks |03 and |09 are hereinafter described.

In the Wire banding operation, the engine 50 .drives the vehicle aroundthe tank through its connection with the sprocket 58 and groovedwheel99; the latter having a. loop of the wire 84 extending therearcundand holding the vehicle in traveling contact with the tank and fromthence around and in frictional contact with the tank. It is desirablethat the carriage I8 shall travel synchronously with the vehicle I4 andthe following means, illustrated in Figs. 4 and 5, is provided foreffecting this function. The carriage is driven by the engine 28 whichcan be of the internal combustion type if desired but, as illustrated,it is driven from compressed air received through a hose |3| whichpasses through a controlling valve |33. The valve has a controlling arm|35 extending downwardly and carrying two spaced pins |31. A cable |39hung from the boom at |4| extends downwardlybetween these pins and fromthence downwardly between two spaced pins |43 on the vehicle I4, thecable being held taut by a weight I 45. When the arm and cable are invertical position the valve is closed. Movement of the vehicle I4forwardly swings the cable forwardly and opens the valve whereby drivingthe carriage I8 forwardly, whereas any lagging of the vehicle behind thecarriage swings the cable rearwardly and closes the valve. Thus themovement of the carriage is synchronized with the movement of thevehicle.

Concrete tanks preloaded by rod reinforcement are usually finished byplacing` a coating of ce..

mentitious composition on and bonded to the reinforcement and to thetank wall. Heretofore this finishing operation has been performedindependently of and following completion of the banding operation. Afurther feature of my invention herein contemplates the placing of thiscoating on the tank from the vehicle I4 simultaneously with the bandingoperation, the cementitious composition being projected onto the bandedportion of the tank following and progressing with the 'banding thereof.The composition is projected from a cement gun |41 illustrated asmounted for pivotal movement on the vehicle I4 in position to projectthe composition onto the previously placed wire 84 (Fig. 1). As thevehicle travels around the tankthe cement gun can be operatedcontinuously or at such time periods as is necessary to provide acoating |49 of the desired thickness. This banding-coating combinationof operations completes the tank wall at one passage of the vehiclethereover as will be apparent.

I shall describe the banding-coating operations as being performed fromthe bottom of the tank upwardly. as illustrated in the drawings. al.though they can be performed from the top downwardly.Themechanismisinitlallyplacedonmd about the tank as illustrated in Fig.lwith the vehicle I4 at its base. The` wire 84 i's carried from the reel88 tothe vehicle I4 and is threaded through the rolls 93, around thewheel Il, around the tank and back tothe vehicle, around the wheel .99,through the blocks |03 and |09, `and back to the tank where` its end isanchored at I8 I Before anchoring the wire at IBI, it is drawn upsubstantially to the desired and necessary tension for effecting thebanding operation. The tensions employed will vary with the gauge ofwire ued, its spacing on the tank, and the amount v of tank compressiondesired. I have placed wire of gauge No. 8 on the tank under a tensionof 3,000 lbs.

It is desirable that the tensioning of the wire as it is placedpermanently on the tank shall remain constant and the blocks |03 and |09(Fig. 3) are employed for this purpose'. The'wire is brought up to theapproximate tension required before its end is anchored at |5I. Thatportion of the wire which is to be wrapped permanently into contact withthe tank is then brought up to the exact tension required by adjustingthe nut I I8 to give a spring pull on the block |03 that will tensionthe wire to this degree. The corresponding position of the pointer IIIon the scale I I2 is noted. Thereafter, during the wire bandingoperation, this tension is maintained constant. The operator observesthe position of the pointer and, should it move one way or the otherfrom the required tension position noted, he rotates the hand wheel |23in one direction or the other to bring the pointer back to and maintainit in said position. Use of the tensioning mechanism |09 is preferredsinceit acts directly on the wire portion being laid permanently on thetank, but it will be understood that such mechanism can be eliminatedand the tension controlled by the brake lever 98 if desired.

. Whenv the banding operation is to be started the clutch 60 is closedwhereby establishing a driving connection between the shaft 52 and thesprocket 58. When the engine clutch is closed by shifting the rod 83 thesprocket 58 is driven in a direction moving the vehicle in the directionof the arrow shown in Fig. 3. The vehicle thereupon draws the wire fromthe reel 85, wraps the wire onto the tank from the wheel and wraps thewire permanently onto the tank from the wheel 99, the convolution ofwire extending from and between these wheels into frictional contactwith the tank serving as a pulling cable for the vehicle.

-Each convolution of wire wrapped permanently onto the tank from thewheel 99 is at an elevation higher than the previously placedconvolution, this being effected by elevating the vehicle which, asillustrated in Figs. 1-7, is performed automatically and synchronouslywith the travel of the vehicle around the tank. The drive from the shaft52 through the chain 94 and speed reducing connections to the drum 36rotates the drum very slowly in a direction automatically or by suitablemeans giving a continued and gradual increase of vehicle elevation asthe operation proceeds, or the vehic.: can-be elevated by means otherthan the engine 60. The engine can be employed to elevate or lower thevehicle independently of its movement around the tank byopening theclutch 60.l

When the vehicle IQ has banded a predetermined portion of the tanktherebeneath, the cement gun |41 is placed in operation from the vehiclewhereby to project cementitious composition into bonding engagement withthe previously placed reinforcing bands. The gun is oscillated toproject the composition evenly' over the rods and wall to be coated andis operated during such time period as is necessary to build up thecoating |49 to the desired thickness.

The maximum length of continuous wire that can be provided in a roll isordinarily limited to less than that required completely .to band a tankand it is therefore 'necessary either to anchor the ends of the wrappedand tensioned wire to the tank or splice one end of each new r-oll tothe previously placed wire. Such operation can be performed in anyconvenient and suitable manner. I prefer however to splice the endseither before they pass to the rolls 93 or after they leave the block|09. In the latter case it will be necessary to hold under tension theend portion of the Wrapped .wire while the splice is being made.Suchholding can be effected by an expansion bolt tapped into the tank,similar to the anchoring illustrated at |5|, or the wrapped end can beheld by the use of a toggle clamp engaging the wire and held by blockand tackle.

While wire can be fed to the vehicle from above, as illustrated in Fig.1, a simpler method of procedure is to carry the wire roll on thevehicle as illustrated in Fig. 8 wherein the parts corresponding tothose heretofore described are indicated by the same referencecharacters primed. Supported on and beneath the vehicle Il is a frame|53 for rotatably supporting a wire reel |55. The reel is, positioned tofeed the wire upwardly to the rolls 93 and from thence to a groovedwheel corresponding to the grooved wheel 95. When a roll of wire hasbeen exhausted from the reel, a full roll is raised to the frame |53 andmounted on the reel whereupon the two ends of the wires can be splicedand the banding operation continued. This construction is simpler thanthe arrangement shown in Fig. 1 and eliminates twisting of the wire asthe vehicle passes around the tank.

While the suspending of the vehicle I4 from the carriage riding on thetank has various advantages it will be apparent that the vehicle can besupported on a carriage riding on the ground as illustrated in Fig. 9.In this view the frame or platform I4" is suspended from the top of atall carriage |51 riding on a single rail |59 on the ground. The rail islocated beneath the outer side of the carriage which therefore tipstoward and rides against the tank wall l" on wheels III. The platform isguided for vertical movement on the carriage and the wire banding andcoating operations are eiected substantially as heretofore described.

The form of invention illustrated in Figs. and 1l employs a completelyannular cable |63 extending around and in frictional contact with thetank and about a sheave |99 on the vehicle, the cable holding thevehicle in traveling contact with the tank, as illustrated in Fig. 10,and the asvaveo tank. The vehicle or platform |61 is-suspended fromabove in the manner heretofore ydescribed and rides against the sidewall of the tank on wheels |69. The engine |50 and its drivingconnection to the vertical shaft |52 and through the chains |51 and |64correspond to those parts illustrated in Fig. 3 and heretoforedescribed. The chain |51 drives a sprocket |59 fixed to a vertical shaft20.0 also having a grooved wheel |99 xed thereto. The endless cable |63is looped around this wheel and serves to drive the vehicle around thetank.

The banding wire |84 passes through the series of grooved rolls |93 andaround a grooved wheel |95 on the brake shaft, the brake construction|65 being substantially the same as that hereto'- fore illustrated anddescribed. The Wire passes between and in engagement with two groovedrolls 20| supported for rotation on a block 203 pivotally mounted on theframe at 205, and from thence the wire passes into trailing contact withthe tank. An index arm 2| carried by the 4block 203 is movable over agraduated scale 2|2. The arm 2|| is connected by a rod |94 to an arm |96projecting downwardly from the brake drum lever v|98 so that pivotalmovement of the block automatically moves the brake drum lever incorresponding directions.

Before starting the banding operation, the free end of the Wire isanchored to the tank, as at |5|, and during the banding operation thetensioning of the wire on the tank is under the control of the brake|65. A spring 2H is connected to the arm 2| at one end audits other endis connected to a threaded bolt 2|5 having a nut 2|6 thereon connectingitto the frame |61. The spring is arranged to rotate the block 203 in adirection tightening the wire and the rod |94 connection to the brakelever is such that such movement of the block also tightens the brake.The brake |65 and nut 2| 6 are initially adjusted to a position at whichthe wire will he drawn from the brake and wound onto the tank at thedesired tension, and the construction and arrangement are such that thistension will be automatically maintained. Any decrease in the tension ofthe wire will permit the spring to rotate the block 203 anti-clockwiseand this movement, through the connection |94, will tighten the brake.Likewise, any increase in tension of the wire will move the block 203clockwise against the action of the spring whereby releasing the brake.Thus the wire is placed on the tank at a predetermined constant tensionwhich is automatically maintained by the above described mechanism.

While I have herein illustrated and described my invention in connectionwith tanks it will be understood that the scope of the inventionincludes equivalent objects such as building structures, large pipes,etc., to which the invention is applicable. It will also be apparentthat the invention contemplates the employment of a cable annulusextending horizontally around and in frictional contact with the tank,either as a convolution of the banding wire or as anindependent cable,and holding the vehicle ln traveling contact with the side wall of thetank, and in the preferred form of the invention the engine is providedwith driving connections adapted to pull the vehicle around the tank `byand along this cable.

Having thus described and illustrated my invcept at one segmentalportion thereof,support vention. what I claim as newand desire to secureby Letters Patent `of the United States is:

l. A' method of banding a tank circumferentially with continuous wirereinforcement, which consists in moving a vehicle around the tankadjacent to its outer face by pulling the vehicle by and along anendless cable annulus extending around and in frictional contact withthe tank, and trailing wire reinforcement from the vehicle in tightcontact with the tank as the vehicle Passes therearound.

2. A method of banding a tank circumferentially with continuous wirereinforcement, which consists in suspending a vehicle from and inrolling contact with the top of the tank to a position adjacent to andin rolling contact with the outer side face of the tank, moving thevehicle around the tank on said rolling contacts by pulling it by andalong a cable extendingaround and in frictional contact with the tank,paying out the cable into said frictional contact rearwardly of thevehicle as the advancing vehicle takes up the cable forwardly thereof,and trailing wire reinforcement from the vehicle in tight contact withthe tank as the vehicle passes therearound. 3. A method of banding andfinishing a tank, which consists in moving' a vehicle around the tankadjacent to its outer face, trailing wire reinforcement from the vehiclein tight contact with the tank as the vehicle passes therearound, movingthe vehicle vertically in one direction during the banding operation,and projecting coating material from the vehicle into bonding engagementwith the previously placed reinforcement as the vehicle passes the same.

4. Apparatus for banding a tank circumferentially with continuous wirereinforcement, comprising a vehicle mounted for movement around the tankadjacent to its outer face, an endless cable annulus extending aroundand in frictional contact with the tank, an engine on the vehicle, meansdriven by the engine and engaging the cable for moving the vehiclearound the tank, and means on the vehicle for trailing wirereinforcement therefrom into tight contact with the tank as the vehiclepasses therearound.

5. Apparatus for banding a tank circumferentially with continuous wirereinforcement, comprising a vehicle mounted for movement around the tankadjacent to its outer face, a roll of wire, said wire extending from theroll to the vehicle and from thence around and in frictional contactwith the tank and back to the vehicle and from thence into trailingcontact with the tank, and means including an engine operative on thefrictionally contacting wire to pull the vehicle around the tank andtrail the wire into tight contact therewith.

6. Apparatus for banding tanks circumferentially with continuous wirereinforcement, comprising a vehicle, means supporting the vehicle formovement around and adjacent to the outer face of a tank, means fordriving the vehicle, means for trailing a wire from the vehicle andwrapping it tightly onto the tank, means for moving the vehiclevertically in one direction on the tank at progressively varyingelevations in said direction, and means carried by the-vehicle forprojecting coating material into bonding engagement with the previouslyplaced wire as the vehicle passes the same.

7. A method of banding tanks circumferentially with continuous wirereinforcement, which consists in placing a cable around and infrictional contact with the side wall of a tank exing said portion ofthe cable in spaced relation .from said wall on avehicle adjacent to thewall,

pulling the vehicle around the tank by and along said cable, paying outthe cable into said frictional contact rearwardly of the vehicle as theadvancing vehicle takes up the cable forwardly thereof, and trailing abanding wire from the vehicle in taut wrapping contact with the tank asthe vehicle passes therearound.

8. A method of-'banding a tank circumferentially with continuous wirereinforcement, which consists in anchoring oneend of the banding wireand wrapping at least one convolution thereof around and in frictionalcontact with the side wall of the tank,'supporting the end portions ofsaid convolution on a vehicle adjacent to said wall, pulling the vehiclearound the tank by and along said convolution, and trailing the wirefrom the vehicle in taut wrapping contact with the tank as the vehiclepasses therearound 9. A method of banding tanks circumferentially withcontinuous wire reinforcement, which consists in placing an elongatedand endless member'horizontally around and in contact with the side wallof a tank, pulling a vehicle around the tank .by and along said member,trailing a banding wire -from the vehicle in taut wrapping contact withthe tank as the vehicle passes therearound, moving the vehiclevertically in one direction 'a predetermined amount with each passage ofthe vehicle around the tank, and moving said member vertically with andby engagement of the Ivehicle therewith.

10. Apparatus for banding tanks circumferentially with continuous wirereinforcement, comprising', a wheeled vehicle adapted to ride on andaroun" the outer. Vertical face of the side wall of a t nk, meanssupporting the vehicle for movement orizontally and at sa predeterminedelevation around the tank, means on the vehicle for supporting a wireand wrapping it circumferentially 1into contact with said face as thevehicle travels around the tank, an elongated member extendinghorizontally around and in contactwith said face of the tank, meansincluding an engine carried by the vehicle and operative on said memberfor moving the vehicle around the tank and paying out the wire undertension in trailing relation to the vehicle, means for indicating thetension ofthe paid out wire, and means pivoted to the vehicle andoperative on the paid out wire in one direction to increase its tensionand in the other direction to decrease its tension.

11. Apparatus for banding tanks circumferentially with continuous wirereinforcement, comprising a wheeled vehicle adapted to ride on andaround the outer vertical face of the side wall of a tank, meanssupporting the vehicle for movement horizontally and at a predeterminedelevation around the tank, means on the vehicle for supporting a wireand wrapping lt circumferentially into contact with said face as thevehicle travels around the tank, an elongated member extendinghorizontally around and in contact with said face of the tank, means invcluding an engine carried by the vehicle -and operative on said memberfor `moving the vehicle around the tank and paying out the wire under apredetermined tension in trailing relation to the vehicle, and othermeans ,directly operative on the paid out wire for automaticallymaintaining it uniformly at said predetermined tension.

12. Apparatus for laying wire under predeter'- predetermined tension intrailing relation to the vehicle and into contact with the tank, tworolls engaging the paid out wire at spaced points, means on thevehiclesupporting the two rolls and movable upon a pivotal axis in twodirections for respectively increasing and decreasing the tension of thewire, and means Vincluding a connection to and between the secondy andthird named means for automatically maintaining the wire in uniformtension by moving the third named means about said axis in accordancewith the tension pull on the second named means.

13. Apparatus for banding tanks circumferentiall;1 with continuous wirereinforcement, comprising a wheeled vehicle adapted to ride on andaround the top margin of a tank, a second wheeledl vehicle adapted toride on and around the vertical side wall of the tank, means suspendingthe second vehicle from the first vehicle, means on the second vehiclefor supporting a wire and wrapping it oircumierentially into contactwith said wall as the vehicles travel around the tank, means includingan engine carried by the second vehicle for moving the vehicles aroundthe tank and holding.fthe wire taut as itV is kept nl: predetermined nposition relative to -the second vehicle.'

14. A method of banding tanks or the like cirV cumierntially withcontinuous wire reinforce--` ment, which comprises effecting movements(`af" vehicle around and in contact with the outer face of a tank throughthe medium of frictional contact of a complete annulus with said tace,

and trailing wire reinforcement from the vehicle in tightcontact withthe tank as the vehicle @passes therearound and holds the wire tautthrough said frictional contact.

' 15. Apparatus for handing tanks circumferentiaily with continuous wirereinforcement, comprising a wheeled vehicle adapted to ride on andaround the outer vertical face of the side wall of a tank, meanssupporting the vehicle for movement around the tank about a verticalaxis located centrally of the tank, means on the vehicle for supportinga wire and wrapping it circumferentially into contact with said tace asthe vehicle travels around the tank, means including a sheave on thevehicle and a cable extending horizontally and endlessly about thesheave and around and in contact with said face of the tank and holdingthe vehicle in traveling contact with said side wall, and meansincluding an engine and driving connections carried by the vehicle formoving the vehicle along the cable and around the tank and holding thewire taut as it is trailed from the vehicle and wrapped onto said face.

JOHN M. CROM.

